Heating unit



Oct. 6, 1936. M. w. EHRLICH 3 HEATING UNIT Filed April 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III II l lL INVENTOR 25 MORRIS m EHRUC'H BY 2 ATTORNEY- Oct. 6, 1936. M. w. EHRLICH 2,056,263

HEATING UNIT Filed April 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /'/v VENTOR MORRIS W EHRL/CH A TTORNEV Patented Oct. 6, 1936 if 5: UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEA I G UNIT v Morris W. Ehrlich, N. J., assignor to Commodore Heaters Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 16; 1934, Serial No. 720,824

7 Claims. (01. 237-73) This invention relates to a heating system and more particularly to a heating unit adapted for use with the so called one pipe system.

In steam heating the method of installation called the one pipe system is probably thesimplest. The essential principles of the so-called one-pipe gravity steam heating system are more or less well known. That is, it is known that a central boiler unit is provided wherein steam is generated which is then transmitted through pipes to heating units, commonly termed radiators, which are located at strategic points in the building to be heated. The steam, while circulating through the heating unit, condenses, giving ofi its heat to the heat conducting elements of the heating unit and the water of condensation drains back down the same pipe through which the steam came. Automatic air valves are pro vided on each heating unit at the end opposite to the supply pipe which serve to remove air from the heating unit.

In systems of this general type one pipe connects each heating unit or radiator to the main line, thereby holding, down to a minimum, the cost of installation. However the one pipe system has certain inherent defects which result in faulty operation due to noise and/waste. Thus while a one pipe system has the advantage of low first cost, it has however a high operating cost and with results which are accepted as incomplete. If these certain inherent faults common to the one pipe system could be overcome, a cheap and efficient heating system would result.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a means associated with the heating units of a one pipe system, which will eliminate the inherent faults of such a system, and make the results comparable to the expensive two pipe system, by preventing the counter-directional flow of the steam and water. That is to say, that when the steam traveling in one direction meets the water traveling in the opposite direction they buck each other thereby causing faulty and ineflicient operation.

In my improved heating system, which has the efiiciency of a two pipe system, but entailing only the low first cost of a one pipe job, I provide a structure integral with the heating unit which positively establishes uni-directional flow, the same as is present in the two pipe system, wherein the air and water travel ahead of the steam and in the same direction, by equalizing the pressure diiferential by novel means located adjacent the heating unitwhich provides for said unit a loop circuit.

Applicants invention is not limited to any particular type of heating unit but inasmuch as the so-called fin type of heating unit is considered the most efiicient, he has shown and described his invention in connection with that type of unit.

Further features and advantages of applicants invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the following drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective partly in section of applicant's invention applied to a "fln type heating unit.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section of the heating unit shown in Fig. l.

, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of heating unit in which the control valve is integral with the header.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the how of steam and water.

Fig. 6 is a modified form of heating unit in which one of the tubes of the heating unit forms the upper part of the'loop.

Referring now to the drawings, applicant, for the purpose of illustration, has shown his invention applied to the fin type of heating unit which forms the subject matter of his copending application, Serial #598,621, filed March 14, 1932.

In Fig. 1 a heating unit having a pair of headers or manifolds Hi and i i are interconnected by means of the tubes l2, said tubes having thereon a plurality of heat radiating fins i3. Connecting the headers in and ii above the plane of the tubes i2, is the pipe M. For convenience of description the headers in and it may be termed inflow and return headers, respectively. A control valve i5 is located between the headers it and the supply pipe IS, an air valve H is located on the header ID to allow the air in the unit to be eliminated. As shown in Fig. 2 the header I0, is provided on its interior with a plurality of partitions or baiiles i8, i9, and 20; these baiiles together with the walls of the header in form the main chambers or compartments 2i and 22, and

the auxiliary chamber 23. The header i0. and

enters the pipe I. After passing thru the pipe H, the steam enters the header II, and passes into the heat conducting pipes l2. The steam now condenses in the pipes i2, in which the water andair flow ahead into the chambers 22 and 23. Here the air and the water are separated, the air passing out of the valve l1, and the water 24 flowing down and accumulating under the battle I! in the chamber 22. This cycle flow as shown by the arrows, continues until the heating requirements have been met and the air valve I! closed. The steam in the pipes l2 continues to condense thereby raising the water level in the chambers 22 and 23 until it flows over the edge of the baiiie l8, into the chamber 2| and down thru the supply pipe l8, into the boiler.

As shown schematically in Fig. 6, applicant provides a complete loop circuit, in which the steam passes thru the valve 25 up into the pipe. 28 and down pipe 21, where it condenses and flows as water into the trap or separator 28 where the air is expelled thru the valve, the water overflowing the baiile and passing to the boiler.

In Fig. 4 the control valve I5 is made integral with the header casting I I.

In Fig. 6 applicant has utilized one of his heat radiating tubes to form the upper loop in place of the pipe I. Applicants invention may also be applied to a heating coil which has no header, the loop or pipe connecting as shown in Fig. 5.

While applicant has shown and described a common control valve, it is to be understood that in some installations the valve may be eliminated and automatic means provided.

What applicant has shown and described is an improved heating system in which the heating unit is in the form of a loop, said loop having a vented intercepting and separating trap, which provides uni-directional flow of the heating medium within the loop circuit, but having only one common connection for the inflow and outflow of the heating medium.

The term heating unit used by applicantis intended to cover any ferrous or non-ferrous heater or convector.

While the applicant has shown and described the preferred form of his invention,- it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A heat convector comprising in combination a plurality of horizontally extending pipes arranged in different planes in staggered relation,

each of said pipes having a plurality of convection flns on its exterior, said pipes communicating with an inflow header at one end and a return header at their other end, said inflow header being divided by a wall into a steam compartment and a water compartment, the uppermost pipe communicating with the steam compartment and the other pipes communicating with the water compartment, the wall dividing said compartments having a space to provide communication between the compartments, and an imperiorate bafiie in said water compartment sealed to said dividing wall above said space and extending downwardly past said space, said baffle terminating short of the bottom of said compart ment.

2. A heat convector comprising in combination a plurality of horizontally extending pipes arranged in diflerent planes in staggered relation, each of said pipes having a plurality of convection amazes flns on its exterior, said pipes communicating with an inflow header at one end and a return header at their other end, said inflow header being divided into a steam compartment and a water compartment, the uppermost pipe communicating with the steam compartment and the other pipes communicating with the water compartment, the wall dividing said compartments having a space to provide communication between the compartments, a baiiie in said water compartment adjacent said space and spaced from the bottom or said water compartment, the space between said battle and the portion of said dividing wall about the first mentioned space being sealed, a vent in said water compartment and a steam supply pipe communicating with said steam compartment.

3. A heat convector comprising in combination a plurality of horizontally extending pipes each having convection flns arranged on its exterior, a header at one side 0! said pipes, said header having partitions on its interior to divide the same into a steam chamber and a water chamber, one of said partitions extending vertically from the bottom of said header and another extending from the top of the header in alignment with the first mentioned partition but spaced therefrom to provide for overflow from said water chamber, a bafiie in said water chamber and to one side of the space between said partitions, said baiiie being spaced from the bottom of said water compartment, the space between the said baiiie and the space between the partition which extends from the top of the header being sealed, a steam supply pipe connected to the bottom of said header and in communication with said steam chamber, one end of said pipes being in communication with said steam chamber and the other end being in communication with said water chamber whereby steam supplied to said steam chamber will pass through said chamber and said pipes to said water chamber, a valve in said steam chamber and a vent in said water chamber.

4. A heat convector comprising in combination a horizontal pipe having a plurality of convection flns arranged on its exterior, an inflow header at one side 01' said pipe and a return header at the other side, said pipe being in communication with each of said headers, the inflow header having partitions on its interior to divide the same into a steam chamber and a water chamber, one of said partitions extending vertically from the bottom of said header and another extending from the top 01' the header in alignment with the first mentioned partition but spaced therefrom to provide for overflow from said water chamber, a steam supply pipe connected to the bottom of said header and in communication with said steam chamber, a steam transfer pipe connected at one end to the top of said header and in communication with the interior of said steam chamber and connected to and in communication with the other header at its other end, steam supplied to said steam chamber by said steam supply pipe passing through said chamber and said transfer pipe to the other header and the steam and condensate passing from said other header through said first mentioned pipe to the water chamber in said inflow header, a valve in said supply pipe and a vent in said water chamber, and a baiiie in the water chamber 01' said inflow header adjacent the space between said partitions and spaced from the bottom of said water compartment, the space between said baiile and the portion of said partitions above the space between the partitions being sealed.

5. A heat convector comprising in combination a horizontal pipe having a plurality of convection fins arranged on its exterior, aninflow header at one side of said pipe and a return header at the other side, said pipe being in communication with each of said headers, the inflow header having partitions on its interior to divide the same into a steam chamber and a water chamber, one of said partitions extending vertically from the bottom of said header and another extending from the'top of the chamber in alignment with the first mentioned partition but spaced therefrom to provide for overflow from said water chamber, a baille in said water chamber and to one side of the space between said partitions, said baifle being spaced from the bottom of said water chamher, the space between said baflle and the portion of said partitions above the space between the partitions being sealed, a steam supply pipe connected to the bottom of said header and in communication with said steam chamber, a steam transfer pipe connected at one end to, the top of said header and in communication with the interior of said steam chamber and connected to and'in communication with the other header at its other end, steam supplied to said steam chamher" by said steam supply pipe passing through said chamber and said transfer pipe to the other header and the steam and condensate passing from said other header through said first mentioned pipe to the water chamber in said inflow header.

6. A heat convector comprising in combination a plurality of horizontally extending pipes arranged side by side each having a plurality of convection fins arranged on their exteriors, an inflow header at one end of said pipes and a return header at the other side, said pipes being in communication with each of said headers, the inflow header having partitions on its interior to divide the same into a steam chamber and a water chamber, one of said partitions extending vertically from the bottom of said header and another extending irom the top of the header in alignment with the first mentioned partition but spaced, therefrom to provide for overflow fromv said water chamber, a bailie in said waterchamher and to one side of the space between said partitions, said baille being spaced from the bottom of said water chamber, the space between said baiiie and the portion of said partitions above the space between the partitions being sealed, a steam supply pipe connected to the bottom of said header and in communication with said steam chamber, a steam transfer pipe connected at the top of said header and in communication with the interior of said steam chamber and connected to and in communication with the other header at its other end whereby steam supplied to said steam chamber by said steam supply pipe will pass through said chamber and said transfer pipe to the other header and the steam and condensate passing from said other header through said first mentioned pipes to the water chamber in said inflow header.

7. A heat convector comprising in combination a plurality of horizontally extending pipes arranged in different planes in staggered relation. each of said pipes having a plurality of convection fins on its exterior, said pipes communicating with an inflow header at one end and a return header at their other end, said inflow header being divided by a wall into a steam compartment and a water compartment, the wall dividing said compartments having a space to provide communication between the compartments, and an imperforate baille in said water compartment sealed to said dividing wall above said space, and extending downwardly past said space, said baiiie terminating short of the bottom or said compartment.

MORRIS W. EHRLICH. 

